Zigsaw Blog

Author: Aanchal Lohia

  • How to Approach a Company for a Job?

    Those years of hard work and slogging. Those all-nighters for the upcoming exams. Learning of those thick textbooks. Millions of formulas to remember. That race to come first every year, hundreds of exams to pass, all of these done just to get a stable job to fulfil all the wishes you have ever dreamt about! There are millions of jobs out there, but still, you dream of getting that one job, which can fulfil all your dreams, the job you had always wished and desired, the job that you want to do for the rest of your life.

    Different companies offer various job profiles. To get a job in a particular domain or sector, getting a proper education in that field is a must. Develop additional skills by doing those different certifications, learning about the current happenings in that sector, continuously upskilling yourself according to the current trend, really gives you an edge. All these CV pointers will help you pass the first round on paper, but to crack the interview you will have to have a really good personality with a great presence of mind.

    These are certain ways that you can use while approaching a company for a job.

    How to Approach a Company for a Job?

    Speculative Approach: The Direct Approach

    Instead of waiting for the company to release posts saying that they are looking to hire someone, you target the company and inform them that you are available to offer your services. Before targetting the company, make sure that the skills you harbour, must align with the skills that the company needs at that point. To follow the speculative approach, you must:

    • Have an impressive CV that matches your skill with the company’s requirements.
    • If possible, try to use some connections that you have in the specified company so that you can get a good introduction.
    • Send an impressive cover letter to the manager, stating all your skills and what you can offer to the company thereby highlighting the points of how valuable you can be to the company (Which will differ from company to company).
    • Thoroughly research the company, the industry, it’s competitors and attains as much information regarding the company as possible. Research, research and lots of research is the only way to keep yourself updated and be prepared to face any questions.
    • Prepare an impressive telephonic pitch, so that you may not be caught like a deer in headlights. Practice it many times, make the delivery perfect, so that you can deliver the pitch any time you get the call.
    • Prepare thoughtful questions for the meeting, be interactive with the interviewer, propose your plans for the company’s future, leave no stone unturned, if you are invited for the interview.
    • Most of these interviews are taken to test your presence of mind, so be prepared to think on your feet.
    • Follow up the interview with a quick gratitude email or a phone call.

    Try to keep in contact with the manager, even after the meeting, to check the status of your selection. This approach has the advantage that this method has less competition.

    A list of don’t do’s are:

    • Don’t send a copy of your resume to every company that you come across. Do proper research regarding the desired company and align all your efforts to one company.
    • Do not drop hard copies of your resumes at the company’s reception desk.
    • Don’t prepare a pitch that goes on for pages after pages, it will surely bore the people out.
    • Don’t keep your elevator pitch hanging for the last moment till the call arrives. Be perfect in whatever you say.

    Recruitment Agencies

    Many companies prefer hiring through various recruitment agencies. Most of them are platform-based applications like Job boards, social and professional networks, LinkedIn and many more. These generally have a recruitment management system, where the recruiters share the CV of the candidates with the hiring companies and the system accepts the potential candidate’s CV. Acceptance is followed by some steps may be an assignment or direct interview.

    Networking: Connecting With People In Your Desired Position

    This is one of the best ways to approach a company for a job as many of us know that the best jobs are never advertised! Actively looking for the people who are in the position that you desire interacting with them, making networks will help in this humongous task of searching for a job. Asking about their life journeys, what steps they took to reach the stage they are currently, will help you build perspective and they may also introduce you to the recruiter in their company. Joining LinkedIn, the qualified networking website, it surely does open huge amounts of opportunities.

    Job/Career Fairs

    Apart from all the free items that they offer, job fairs are organized for the sole purpose to get in contact with the job seekers. This gives you the direct opportunity to go and talk to the employer, understand the company’s requirements, pitch in yourself to the potential recruiter and use the opportunity for your benefit.

    These are just some of the ways how you can approach a company or even an employer for a job. Having an impressive tailor-made resume, the cover letter is the starting point that helps get you in the good books of a potential employer. Never hesitate when speaking in an interview, boldly keep your views, opinions and plans forward which makes it more difficult for the employer to let go of you. Have the confidence in yourself that there is nothing that you cannot achieve and this confidence will shine in the way you present yourself. Yes, you need a job, but don’t forget that companies are also always in the search of hard-working good employees as you, so it is always a two-way street. Don’t let the pressure bog you down and give your all to get the job of dreams.

    Always remember no one but you are the only one, who can get you the job you have always desired and so prepare yourself for that!

    We can help you find your dream job. Just register here on our platform.

  • 13 Best HR Blogs in India 2024

    We all know HR managers form an indispensable part of any firm. They are the ones primarily responsible for the smooth management of all the work, forming the bridge between the senior management and the lower-level employees, looking into the grievances of people at every level in an organization. Fights between employees, need to take an urgent leave, issues related to hiring and firing of people, you know that HR is your go-to person! In short, they act as the oil which is applied to the friction causing parts of the machine, to ensure that they work smoothly.

    An HR blog is an online platform, where numerous articles about the kind of HR practices are posted. These may include posts from HR themselves, sharing their personal life experiences, or someone sharing various tips regarding a specific HR topic. Some blogs are even open for discussions, to provide a better idea for any specific concern raised. So, many HR companies use blogs, to generate more visibility for their firms, keep people updated about their recent activities and thus, in turn, hope to get more followers and thereby increase their business.

    List of Best HR Blogs in India

    Many HR blogs in India provide reliable and good-quality information regarding various HR questions that you might have in your mind. Take a look at the top HR blogs in India:

    Zigsaw Consultancy

    This Udaipur based consultancy firm has one motto, to get everyone in India a job, staffing and recruiting is their main agenda. A great blog with articles on a varied range of topics from best HR colleges in India to providing tips to HRs and managers on how to maintain a motivating environment at workplace, this blog has it all! Creative content on numerous aspects of HR makes this blog as one of the best and it should be on the top of your list!

    People Matters

    A pretty frequent blog, in updating articles on the current happenings in the HR world. People Matters also releases interviews with various leading HR heads to help aspire budding HR managers get an overview regarding the HR domain. It also organises various webinars, to keep people engaged, thus making this blog one of the front runners today!

    People Strong Blog

    A firm with a strong network base and great HR expertise, People Strong are one of the best in their field. Continuous update on the HR technology, with a variety of article on recruitment, work-life, payroll and many more, makes it a great read. Various articles on the effects of Covid-19 in the current situation, a huge archive dating back to the year 2008, this blog has too many great articles to satisfy your reading thirst.

    ADP India HR Blog

    Numerous blogs, case studies, an overview of various HR acts, this blog has it all. Articles relating to workplace trends, the maternity benefit act, talent management, talent retention, Salaries and wages are some of the many exciting articles that you can get your hands upon in this blog. Providing various HR solutions through their aim of personal touch helps them in maintaining their key position in the firm and makes their blog a valuable read.

    Cute HR

    A firm that provides HR software & management solution, team management, employee monitoring facilities and many more, also provides a great blog section, providing numerous articles on the HR policies. Along with the regular stuff, articles on various HR software makes it a tad bit different from the other HR blogs thereby earning a position in the top HR blogs of India.

    Keka

    An active blog, with a huge article list touching onto all the key aspects of the HR world. Pledged to simplify complex workflows and the provider of the employee-centric payroll software, this blog has a huge, never-ending list of HR-related topics, that you won’t be running out of any time soon! Any HR related query, this blog might have a solution to all of your problems!

    Wise Step

    Huge number of articles on different domains like HR, management, workplace, workforce, talent acquisition and talent retention, this blog hoards it all. Articles on HR analytics, HR policies, CV tip for HR and many more, this blog is filled with all this. This firm provides the solution for accelerated recruitment compiled with real-time analytics and intelligence thus being a veteran in the field of HR.

    HR KATHA

    As the slogan of the firm goes, “Human Resources Simplified!”, it lives up to its mission. Along with the articles, this also provides real-time updates about the current happenings in all the firms in their HR departments, thereby keeping the followers updated, thus making it a must to check out.

    Sights in Plus

    Sections like interviews, milestones, HR practices, hot topics, news and many more thus providing the users, different kinds of articles and videos that they can go through. Keeping everyone updated with the news section, popularising different kinds of HR practices, this blog caters to all different kinds of reading materials.

    HUSYS

    This firm aims to regularly update and thereby keep people updated with the interesting and insightful topics of HR segment, business and the world. HR consulting and HR operations are the fields they specialise in, thereby using their expertise to make people all over, keep updated.

    QAspire

    This award-winning blog from India by Tanmay Vora, has great insights not only in HR but also leadership, learning and changes. A blog running since 2006, Mr Vora has been ranked amongst the top Indian HR influencers on social media for 5 consecutive years, thereby sharing personal experiences, current trends, making his blog worth reading.

    HR Success Talk Blog

    Hundreds of articles on the blog relating to HR discussions, performance management, recruitment any more. This also offers an HR forum, for open discussions on various HR topics, which is a huge hit among the followers. It also provides the download option for various HR policies, letters and formats and many more thus providing different resources at one place.

    The HR Blog

    A unique way of providing information related to the various HR topics through interview questions, so that the readers can better connect it to the real-life experiences, gives this blog the edge that most of the other blog lags. Negotiation skills are also provided through articles written and thus it becomes one of the must-read blogs in everyone’s list.

    These are some of the best HR blogs in India. The huge number of articles on various topics are provided here. Go through them, to pursue your interest in the field of HR. Keeping yourself updated with the happenings in all the sectors in the business is a great way to be ahead in the game. Amazing articles to binge upon, go through these to have an enriching experience.

  • “Why Did You Choose This Career?” Samples Answers

    One of the most important aspects of our lives is the career that we choose to embark upon. It can be the same as that of most of our peers, our friends, people we may know, or it can be something unique, something out of the blue, something never of heard before. The point is that it is our life, and we must have the freedom and the passion for following the career of our choice. People must be allowed to give their valuable inputs when deciding this crucial matter. Still, no one should deter us from following our passion just because the neighbouring Sharma uncle’s son is doing something diabolically different from what we have planned to do!

    The profession that we choose for ourselves, should not be based on whims and fantasies; it must be well planned out. We must have a clear head regarding our future and the conviction that the chosen path will be the most fruitful for us. Apart from the interest and the passion required, we must also look into the scope of the career, its impact on various aspects of our lives, before making a full-blown career out of it.

    There are many career options, and similarly, millions of people. Many people mean as many opinions on the career we want to pursue, so just hear everyone out, but do only what the heart desires! So, here is the list of some of the most popular career choices in India, which all lead to the same question at one point or the other- why did you choose this career? One of the most common questions that are asked in the interviews. A justifiable and an honest answer must be given that makes you look interested in the job profile and like a person who knows what she/he is doing. Let’s look into some of these and try to answer this question as efficiently as possible that will also help in the interviews for sure!

    • Chartered Accountant, commonly known as CA
    • Engineer (of any kind)
    • Doctors
    • IPS/IAS officers
    • Lawyers
    • MBA
    • Army personnel
    • Journalism

    Well, there are no limits to what you can achieve, but here we have chosen the popular few and will see how we can answer the dreaded question for some of them!

    “Why did You Choose This Career?” Samples Answers

    The Medical Profession

    Being in the medical profession is a fact of great honour. The ability to help others when they are at their most vulnerable is a fascinating job, and prioritizing someone’s health above all, is the noblest thing to do. The adrenaline rush, which requires critical thinking and using the brain at its feet, is one of the most fulfilling reasons.

    Let’s check out some answers to the question why choose the medical profession as a career option?

    Sample answer 1: I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine at the age of fourteen. The ability to help others has always fascinated me. I decided to make a career in medicine after my younger sister was diagnosed with kidney disease. I spent many days taking care of her, helping my parents, and making sure that she had the utmost comfort while going through such a tough phase at such a young age ever since I wanted to pursue medicine to help others in need and to treat people of their illness.

    Sample answer 2: I decided to choose a career in medicine at a very young age. I come from a humble background. Back at my village, many advancements in the medical field had not penetrated. When I was quite small, a close relative was diagnosed with cancer, and due to lack of facilities, he faced troubles getting treatment. So, a special interest developed in the study of cancer, and I decided to pursue medicine so that I can make a difference to the lives of the rural people, who won’t have to wander due to lack of medical staff again.

    Chartered Accountant

    One of the toughest courses to crack in India, a career as a chartered accountant, is quite rewarding. India is a land of millions of business, and each business needs someone to look after the financial aspects of their firm, there comes a CA to your rescue!

    Let’s check out some answers to the question why choose CA as a career option?

    Sample 1: I wanted to become a CA because I have an interest in accounting. CA is an excellent professional course that will help me polish my skills and make a career in the field, which excites me the most. I want to enhance my understanding of how businesses work and regarding industry standards. Pursuing CA is full of challenges, and I love challenges, and it also aligns with my long-term goals, so I chose to become a CA.

    Engineering

    Engineering offers opportunities in a wide variety of fields. From problem detection to solving problems, everything comes under the scope of what an engineer can do. The fascination in understanding how things work has made engineering a very creative career option.

    Let’s check out some answers to the question why choose engineering as a career option?

    Sample answer 1 (IT Engineer): The job of an engineer is to find out the best solution for an already existing problem, constrained by technical, financial, and political constraints. For me, I have always been fascinated with various computer technologies and wanted to gather more knowledge regarding this field. Studying IT engineering will allow me to work in the area that interests me the most and will also help me in aiding the technical issues faced by the community around me.

    Sample answer 2 (Engineer): I have always been fascinated by the way things work. Since childhood, I loved taking apart machines and circuits and look around without disrupting anything. I have always wanted to make a difference, and the only way I can is by understanding technology and building technology.

    IPS/IAS Officers

    Indian civil services is a position of honour, respect, dignity, and power. They are the people who are in direct contact with one of the most powerful government authorities in India, thereby serving the nation with pride.

    Let’s check out some answers to the question why choose civil services as a career option?

    Sample answer 1: I have always wanted to serve my nation and be in the key position in the government. The position of an IAS officer is the best in India. India, as we know, is a continuously developing country that has various welfare-oriented practices at the place. As the job of an IAS officer entails the formulation and implementation of national policies, so it will give me multiple opportunities to recognize and solve problems and bring innovative solutions to life, thereby helping me to serve the people of the nation.

    Lawyers

    The ability to help someone get justice, to solve their legal problems is a fascinating reason to pursue law. Racking brains continuously, to find that one loophole, twisting words to succeed in getting what one wants is a great motivator. Lawyers often exude the persona of their invincibility with the amount of knowledge they possess, making it a challenging yet great career option.

    Let’s check out some answers to the question why choose law as a career option?

    Sample answer 1: I have a natural inclination to stand against the injustice and for the rights of the people from an early age. I have pursued an education in law for 4 years, which has helped me develop a keen interest in the field of corporate law. Being an articulate and assertive spokesperson, I believe that I have the required skills, keenness, and aptitude that will help me carve a career for myself in law.

    Sample answer 2: For me, the law is just not a career option, but it is the means through which I can serve my nation and people. It is not only about the rules and the regulations, but it is also about justice, equality, and rights. I want to make a career as a lawyer because I believe that law is the fundamental of life and liberty. Being a lawyer is financially rewarding, full of challenges, and personally fulfilling. Also, it will provide me with the courage to raise my voice against injustice and fight for everyone’s rights.

    Army Personnel

    Undying love for the country, not everyone can have a great heart to serve in the army. Serving in the army is the matter of the ultimate pride. Protecting the country from the enemies, being on guard 24*7, not being bothered to sacrifice oneself to protect mother earth, it requires an enormous amount of will power and determination.

    Let’s check out some answers to the question why choose the army as a career option?

    Sample answer 1: Being an Indian officer will allow me to serve the nation with pride. Donating my entire life for the protection of the country has always fascinated me. An army man’s life is full of adventure, surviving at impossible circumstances, with just the aim to protect until I succeed, has what urged me to join the army.  

    MBA

    MBA is still valued as one of the most prestigious degrees to earn. Developing a sense of business, applying it to real-world scenarios, is just fascinating.  The rigour, the pressure, the fascination, not everyone is up for it. It is correctly said that an MBA is an experience of a lifetime.

    Let’s check out some answers to the question why choose MBA as a career option?

    Sample answer 1:  I always have to be an entrepreneur. Though I agree, the degree of MBA is not an important prerequisite for it, but an MBA will serve as a great starting point for understanding business. It will also help me form connections and networks. The most important aspect of an MBA is peer-to-peer learning, which is invaluable. Apart from all these, the internships, live projects, case studies will help me gain valuable insights regarding various industries.

    Journalism

    A career in journalism allows you to interact with different kinds of people regularly. It allows exploring new things, builds a great network, and works in an ever-changing environment.

    Let’s check out some answers to the question why choose journalism as a career option?

    Sample answer 1: I have been an extremely curious person with the urge to know whatever is going around me. If I see any current issue, I make it my mission to go to the depth of it by researching, asking people involved in it. I also have a wide range of interests, from sports to politics to entertainment. So, what else than journalism can fit my interests? So I would like to pursue a career in journalism that can go with my passion.

    Well, these are some of the answers that you can give, when all your relatives poke at you for why are pursuing the career of your interest or an interviewer asks you regarding the same. Just do whatever your heart desires, give your 100 percent, and you will shine for sure. Continue working with the same zeal, and whatever career you choose will have a fruitful future.

  • How to Write a Declaration for Resume? – With Samples

    A resume is one of the most critical aspects that help anyone land a job in this extremely competitive environment. A resume is something that creates that first impression and can help you float or sink. It helps give an overview of your achievements to date to your prospective employer and goes a long way in deciding your future. So, the resume has to be on-point and should give an impressive overview of you as a person. The resume should also simultaneously describe your achievements in a positive light. Thus, a professional resume, with the correct template, is one of the most crucial deciding factors.

    A working professional with some years of work experience still has an idea of what is expected in a resume. But if you are a fresher, then getting it accurately to point is the single most crucial thing for you. It helps you give the big start to your dream career. Resume for a fresher is nothing but a self-advertising document, portraying them as perfectly fit for the job role applied and thereby compelling the potential recruiters for shortlisting them. Apart from all the facts, one of the essential parts of the resume is the area of declaration, which gives the person reading your resume, a guarantee that all the facts mentioned above are entirely correct.

    Resume Declaration

    A declaration in the resume is written generally at the end of the entire document, authoritatively stating that all the information furnished regarding one-self is true and is acknowledged by you. The name and the date also forms a part of the resume declaration. This practice of including the declaration is a pretty old concept, and there are two sectors of people on either side of the coin stating it’s importance in inclusion or not. It was done earlier to prevent cases of fraud or misinformation regarding a person. Even today, including a declaration, seems to be more credible and displays transparency on the part of the applicant.

    Importance of a Declaration in Resume

    A well-structured resume must have all of the elements including from an impressive title, your name, and address, educational qualifications till current date, all the internships that are undertaken, Achievements in the field of education, co-curricular activities, your hobbies, extra skills that you possess, languages that are known, any other personal information worth knowing, references from previous workplaces (if any) and at last the declaration. All the elements mentioned above together create an impressive resume, and thus including all the elements is recommended.

    A great declaration at the end of the resume has the following importance:

    • It gives proof of your authenticity and thereby prevents the chances of confusion and wrong information during the recruitment process.
    • It also gives the referral provided by you an extra edge of credibility.
    • For freshers, especially, a declaration can create a great first impression in the mind of the recruiters.
    • It also acts as a deterrent for any kind of manipulation or fraud in the details.

    When to Use Declaration in a Resume

    Declaration in a resume seems to be useful when you are applying for a job in one of the following areas:

    • When applying for a job in a company that follows a formal application process.
    • When applying for a job in the government sector.
    • A job in a country where the declaration in a resume is pretty much a prevalent practice.
    • When applying for a job in an educational institution.
    • When applying for a job in a company that has strictly defined corporate hierarchy.

    How to Write a Declaration in Resume?

    Some things must be included while writing the declaration sentence in a resume. These things serve as a skeleton for providing the correct form of declaration. These are:

    Things to be Included While Writing a Declaration

    • A clear declaration statement in precise 1-2 lines: The declaration can be in the most simple words but must convey the message that all the information provided is true without any speculation of doubt.
    • Date and location- The current date and the location of the author must be mentioned quite clearly just below the declaration on the left-hand corner.
    • Full signature- Your full official signature at the right-hand side of the declaration content, is a must as it gives the declaration it’s authenticity. Your signature works like an official seal, thereby proving the genuineness of the information provided.
    • Full name: Just below the signature, your full name is written. Both the signature and the name is written on the right side, which is opposite to the date and the location in the declaration content.

    Template for Declaration

    Template for Declaration

    Examples of Resume Declaration

    Few samples on how to write a declaration for a resume to make it more credible are provided below. They are:

    • I hereby declare that all the details mentioned above are in accordance with the truth and fact as per my knowledge, and I hold the responsibility for the correctness of the above-mentioned particulars.
    • I hereby declare that the information mentioned above is true to my knowledge, and I will be held responsible for any deviation from them at a later stage.
    • I hereby declare that the information mentioned here is true and correct to my knowledge, and I take complete responsibility for the accuracy of the particulars mentioned.
    • I hereby declare that the above-mentioned information is correct to the best of my belief.
    • All the information provided by in the resume are correct and to the best of my knowledge.
    • I solemnly declare that all the above information is free from error to the best of my knowledge and belief.
    • I hereby declare that the above statements mentioned in my resume are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
    • I sincerely proclaim that all the information provided above is true to my knowledge and I am responsible for its accuracy.
    • I hereby declare that all the above-mentioned information is accurate and true.
    • I sincerely declare that the information mentioned above is true and I take responsibility for any deviation from the above-mentioned facts in the future.

    These are some of the sample declaration sentences that can be used in a resume. Though a declaration is not mandatory, including it in the resume enhances the credibility and creates a great first impression. So, include it in your resume and let your resume do wonders.

  • How to Become a Content Writer in India?

    Content writer, content developer, the content creator- several names, but the job is the same. Writing content is not an easy job. It entails rigorous searching, reading up on various materials, extracting important information, converting them in a readable article and the submission. Many times, it also requires the use of the creative capacity of the brain to its full extent to come up with some content never seen before! The ability to create powerful, attention-grabby content in today’s time is a wonderful skill that can be a great addition to your armour and comes very handy.

    How to Become a Content Writer in India?

    Skills Required

    As already said, content writing is not something that comes easily to everyone. Certain pre-requisites are very useful if you want a career as a content writer. They are:

    • A good vocabulary: A vast collection of vocabulary is a must for being a good content writer. As content equates words, so having a set of enriching vocab words, is a great way to go ahead.
    • Love for reading: What else can be a better way to build your vocabulary, than constant reading? But developing a reading habit is not easy, so a person, who loves the idea of a 600-page book, a coffee and a comfortable bed, can have a great future as a content writer.
    • Patience: A great article does not come easy! It requires immense patience to churn the wheels of your brain and to finally produce something worth reading!
    • The ability to convert the accumulated vocabulary to a great post: Not just gathering vocabulary, but using it effectively to create a good a post is not something anyone can do, so penning down creative posts is also equally important!

    The Path Forward

    In India, there is not some kind of set rules and regulations, on how to be content writer, just like most of the other professions, but a rough skeleton can give you the idea required to pursue your skill and make a profession out of it. The rough outline of the process that can be followed is given below:

    • Put on your thinking caps: Optimum utilization of the brains is required to be able to create unique content. Though not only goes in creating the article, but also in the way of presenting it, so it is extremely eye-catching and attracts a huge amount of traffic.
    • Practice makes perfect: Nothing good can be attained without practising. And not just a few times, it requires a dedicated amount of times, to think if a nice topic, exhaust all the available resources to produce good content on the chosen topic. Start with something small and slowly but steadily make your way to huge articles.
    • Consider Upskilling: Just creating amazing content is not enough in today’s age. You must also know ways by which you can market your content across various platforms so that people start to notice you! Apart from this, learning the basics of some writing platforms like WordPress, CMS can help boost up your writing profile.
    • Certifications and qualifications: Doing some certifications, might also help add value and might help you in learning some more intricacies. For the job as the subject matter expert in many industries, additional qualifications are required, which will help you secure the job. Courses on technical writing, digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), social media fundamentals will provide you with leverage in the professional world.
    • Find your niche: Not everyone can write perfectly for every domain, so you got to find your own “special calling”! The domain, the style, the platform which brings out the best content from you, that is your niche. Specialise in your niche, be the best in your field, will surely help big-time!
    • Create a social media presence: What good will the content do, if no one is there to see your talent? No people to recognize the great skill that you have? So, it is very important to create a social media presence and enhance it regularly. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter all of these are a great way to develop your profile and thus help in networking!
    • Build a portfolio: Being a new person in the field of content writing, nobody is going to trust your skills unless you have something to show to the world. Creating a portfolio helps tremendously in this case as it contains a group of well-written articles by you, which serves as samples for your future employer, so keep the best of your creations as a sneak-peak to your writing skill.

    Searching For Jobs

    There are various ways a content writer can secure a job. Apart from the conventional ways, the 21st century has opened doors filed with millions of possibilities for the budding content creators to achieve their dreams. Some of those are:

    • Apply to companies with openings: The traditional way of securing any job. Start scouring various platforms searching for availability and apply to all the places, get shortlisted, crack the interview and boom, you got a job! Digital marketing companies, advertisement agencies are the ones, who are almost in search of writers. Full-time or part-time, go grab the opportunity with both your hands.
    • Internships: If you are not looking for something long, something just to satisfy your passion for a time being, search for 2-3 months internships on various platforms like Internshala, LinkedIn and many more and try your hands on this domain.
    • Blogging: Though it may start as a non-monetised avenue of showcasing your skills, if you create fantastic content, get a huge amount of traffic on your page, it may eventually turn into an income-earning possibility and it also serves as a great way to build up your portfolio.
    • Become a freelance content writer: Being a freelance content writer, the most important perk is that is not your regular 9-5 job. You are your own free master, you decide how to work, whom to work with and where to work. It requires a tremendous amount of passion and dedication to reach the stage you want to be in, but freelancing is worth it. You can also create a rate card as most of the freelancers do, thereby speaking volumes of the kind of work you provide.

    The only way to become a great content writer is to read, read and read. Practising regularly is the only way to get ahead in the game as compared to your contemporaries. Believe in your skill, keep your research base strong and keep on creating!

    Looking for best content writing jobs in India? Register here on our platform to find one.

  • Employee Burnout Causes and Cures

    We are living in an extremely fast-paced world, where no one seems to have the time to relax or take a breather. Everyone seems to have one or the other deadline hanging on their heads. It seems as if everyone is a part of this never-ending race, where one deadline leads to another and then another. In this kind of a demanding and challenging atmosphere, many employees feel the burden of it too much and seem to be physically, mentally and emotionally drained. This refers to as “employee burnout” and is a very common happening in today’s world thus re-emphasizing on the saying once again “All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy!”.

    Not being able to concentrate on the work at hand, being detached from what is going on, uncertainty relating to the work are some of the common symptoms that an employee suffering from burnout experiences. The disruption of the entire work-life balance affects the person so badly, that it is visible in his/her behaviour, attitude towards life. The person becomes more and more irritable, negative and may be inclined to take some dire actions. The person can suffer from various physical issues, mental issues, professional and even personal consequences.

    Mental issues faced:

    • Anger
    • Anxiety
    • Depression – Most common in today’s time
    • Constant irritation
    • Need for medical help

    Physical issues faced:

    • Headaches
    • Stress
    • Stomach aches
    • Tiredness
    • Type 2 diabetes
    • High chances of developing high blood pressure
    • High chances of heat-related illness
    • High chances of death at an early age sue to excessive stress

    Professional Consequences:

    • Job dissatisfaction
    • Uncertainty regarding the work submitted
    • Staying away from large groups of colleagues/ friends
    • Inability to do a satisfactory job

    Personal Consequences:

    • Withdrawl from family
    • Becoming extremely irresponsible
    • Alcohol/drug abuse
    • Being careless with finances

    Employee Burnout Causes

    Employee burnout is becoming an extremely serious concern in the current-day workplace. There are many causes which leads to this kind of burnout, some of which are mentioned below:

    • JOB SCOPE CREEP: When the duties listed on paper vary significantly from the duties assigned, this kind of mismatch is referred to as job creep. This happens mostly after the employee has spent a significant amount of time in the organization and thus the need of the job changes as the time passes. But still, a deviation from what the employee was brought on board seems to take a toll on many employees.
    • LIMITED/ NO CHANCE OF CAREER PROGRESSION: Imagine, clocking in hours of work, day in and day out for nothing! It is irritating even listening to this right? There are many people who today are stuck in this endless loop and thus either try to figure out something else or at last, they have to bear the brunt of it.
    • POOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS OF THE ORGANISATION: When the communication channel falters, then most of the decisions are taken by the higher-level management, without considering its impact on the overall organizational structure and thus the lower level employees suffer.
    • HIGH-STRESS ENVIRONMENT WITH LONG HOURS OF SLOGGING: Employers need to understand that quantity does not equate quality. Not every individual who keeps on slogging for 14 hours will work much more than a sane-minded, distressed individual clocking the regular 9-5 job. Each employee needs to work on their pace within a relaxed environment to deliver their best and give back most to the company.
    • POOR WORK CULTURE: Many times, the people in your vicinity, your colleagues, your manager, may not be the most positive force, but the constant ridicule, the constant dissatisfaction with the kind of work submitted, all these may lead to employee burnout.
    • IMPROPER WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Giving all the attention to your work and nothing to time for relaxing and calming your brain, will eventually lead to burnout. Each machine needs fuelling, or it is bound to go haywire, similarly with the body and the brain, if it continuously works without giving it a break for relaxing, they too will suffer damages.
    • FAVOURITISM IN THE COMPANY: Beating down the employee’s morale, by preferring someone over the other, leads to some serious issues. This creates an impression in the mind of the employees that whatever they do, they won’t ever be able to take the place of their boss’s favourite and this is enough to make their minds go in a spiral.
    • NO TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES: When there is no kind of communication between team members, obviously the team will fall apart. And everyone knows corporate life is a summation of various team projects, not “individual” ones! So, the team has to have a great camaraderie to perform nice, otherwise, it will lead to misunderstandings and eventually burnout of employees.
    • NO EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION: Everyone deserves recognition for all the hard work one puts in. But nowadays, many companies just show their appreciation with some standard, same gifts for all the employees and thus, kill the motivation of the employees who genuinely worked hard.

    Employee Burnout Cures

    Well, this is a recurring issue in today’s time, but something needs to be done in to reduce it, to help in the retainment of top-performing employees so that they do not leave the organization to go search for something better. There are various ways that do serve as the cure for the employee burnout problem.

    There are somethings that the employee can do themselves, to cure burnout. They are:

    • BE MORE SOCIAL WITH COLLEAGUES: Engaging with people in groups, reducing the time spent alone, will help in the long run as it stops the brain from overthinking about the current ongoing issues. Being more interactive will also help build the bonding between the team and will also aid in the projects.
    • STAY AWAY FROM NEGATIVE PEOPLE: Negative people have the power to drain out any kind of positivity left in you, so it is advisable to stay away from them, till you nurse yourself back to perfection.
    • RESTORE THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Find some time for yourself apart from the work, give more time to pamper yourself, spend time with family will help phase out from burnout.
    • FIND VALUE IN YOUR WORK: Always try to find something good in your work, your mundane life, find positivity, which might be a great booster.
    • CORRECT YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE: A body with adequate hours of sleep works properly and thus help reduce various illness. Thus, fixing up your sleep schedule must be of great help.
    • EXERCISE/ MEDITATE REGULARLY: Who does not know about the powers of meditation and exercise? Regular physical activities have the power to improve the mood significantly!

    Somethings that the employer can do to help cure the burnout of their employees are:

    • PRAISE AND PROVIDE RECOGNITION: Every employee craves for the appreciation of the work done by him/her. Praising and providing necessary feedback helps boost the morale of the employees and keep their motivation intact!.
    • ALWAYS BE APPROACHABLE: A boss who is always there for his/her employees, whether for professional problems or personal issues, is valued dearly. Empathy is the greatest emotion that one can show and thus it also bridges the gap and thus solve the problem of lack of communication.
    • NO BIASEDNESS: Treating all your employees equally, showing no favouritism is the only ethical way, how any of the corporates should work.
    • ENCOURAGE STRESS RELIEVERS: Sometimes workloads can be huge, but there is always a stress-free way of getting work done. Encourage these kinds of practices in the workplace.
    • REDUCE OVERTIME: Encourage the employees to enjoy their “me-time” and not get bogged down by the continuous work-load, will help prevent as well as treat employee burnout.
    • CLEAR JOB REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS: Making it clear from the beginning what all re expected from the employee will help clear the air of misunderstanding between the employee and the employer and thus will lead to a much calmer work-environment.

    Thus, employee burnout is a serious issue in today’s world but with some above-mentioned ways, it can be cured. Just letting things go and focusing on your mental health, is of top priority here and it will surely work wonders.

  • Types of Leaves in a Company

    A body is not a machine and thus it may rest from time to time to maintain the level of efficiency. Every employee of every company has the right to take some days off from their busy, hectic schedule and to just cool off. Leaves are extremely important to help maintain the work-life balance of an individual that helps them boost their productivity. All the companies whether governmental or non-governmental gives different types of leaves for all their employees and it’s the decision of the employees to use them either for sports, recreation, travelling or whatever helps them keep going!

    Also Read: How to Write Leave Application for Office with Samples

    Types of Leaves in a Company

    Every employee has the right to various kinds of leave during his/her employment period.  Leaves can be classified into 2 broad categories:

    • PAID LEAVES: The kind of leaves where the employee still receives the salary even if he/she takes a day off. There are certain amount of days already assigned as paid leave for the entire term of employment. So, these are the kind of leaves with pay. Generally taken during the time of accidents on duty, funeral, jury duty etc.
    • UNPAID LEAVES: These are the leaves without pay. An urgent request of leave from the employee will result in an unpaid leave for the reasons not maintained under paid leaves. Like a medical check-up, urgent checking up on a relative and many more.

    All the leaves can further be divided into 3 types:

    • MANDATORY LEAVES: These are just like the holidays everyone used to get in schools and colleges without having the pay deducted. Holidays for certain religious festivals, off on weekends (which varies depending on the number of working days of an organization) and holidays on days of national importance.
    • LEAVES: There are various kinds of leaves assigned by the companies, a curated list of which is given below:
      • MEDICAL LEAVE/ SICK LEAVE: The only kind of leave, that does not require prior intimation. A sick leave is generally taken when the employee is suffering form some kind of illness and leaves are required to get better. The range of sick leaves varies from 12-15 days available for the employee to use, which can be extended further in case of serious illness and if not redeemed can be carried forward to the next year. After two days of sick leave, a report from a trusted medical practitioner must be produced.
      • CASUAL LEAVE: Running in the range of 5-15 days, casual leaves can be used by prior informing the employer. This is generally taken by the employees when they want to give their personal life an upper hand compared to the professional life like in case of attending marriages, taking vacations. These kinds of leaves cannot be taken forward and holidays are not counted while counting casual leaves if they occur in the period between casual leaves.
      • MATERNITY LEAVES: These kinds of leaves are only for the women employees who plan on having a baby during their period of engagement. Expecting/ New mothers can take up to 3 months of paid leave to take care of the new-born baby, which can be extended up to 26 weeks with half pay and till 16 months of unpaid leaves. Maternity leaves can also be taken at the time of abortion or miscarriage, but then the duration of the leaves is curtailed.
      • PATERNITY LEAVES: Fathers of new born child or men who have adopted a child, are entitled to take 10 days to 2 weeks of paternity leave. Though not mandated by law, so it may or may not be provided by all the companies, but it depends on the HR of the companies. Paternity leaves can generally be taken within 1 month of the birth of the baby, to help take care of the child as well as the recovering wife.
      • PRIVILEGE LEAVE/ EARNED LEAVE: As the name suggests, these kinds of leaves are earned as a part of working for the organization, for a fixed period of time. These leaves are paid leaves and can be used after prior information. These leaves can be encashed or can be carried forward for a time period of 3 years. This type of leave, cannot be claimed for more than 3 times a year.
      • STUDY LEAVES/ SABBATICAL LEAVES: A leave which is of much longer duration than most of the other leaves. These leaves, mostly unpaid, are generally provided to the employees to upskill their knowledge base, like if the employee wants to study further, so that the person can be of more value to the company after he/she rejoins. Sabbatical leaves are generally granted after the employee has loyally worked for the organization for a stretch of more than 3 years and the leave stretches for a period of 6 months to the entire duration of the course.
      • QUARANTINE LEAVES: A rare kind of leave, mostly given when the employee is suffering from an infectious disease than can also be very harmful for other people of the organization.
      • BEREAVEMENT LEAVES: May not be a mandatory leave, but a sudden death of some loved one, leaves a hole in the heart than can’t be filled. Compassionate enough HRs may provide hassle free policies to use this leave for a period of 3-7 days, so that the employee can deal with the pain of sudden loss.
      • HALF PAY LEAVES: Not all organizations provide these kinds of leaves, generally government organizations do, where the employees can take leaves up to 20 days and will get half day salary for each day of leave taken. The employees are entitled to have these leaves only after they have worked for the company for a stipulated period of time.
      • UNPAID LEAVES: When all the leaves in the leave basket of the employee gets over, and the employee needs to take a leave, then those leaves will entail a pay cut.
    • NON LEAVES: 3 kinds of non leaves are there that are offered by the company. They are:
      • COMPENSATORY LEAVES: This can be considered as bonus for the employees, who put in extra hours of hard-work. Also, employees who work on an off day, are eligible for this leave. The employees are generally automatically informed if they have a compensatory leave remaining.
      • WORK FROM HOME: In this, the employee still has to work, but the employee can choose to do so from the comforts of his/ her own house, which also helps the employee to maintain the work-life balance and thus work with much less pressure.
      • FIELD WORK: For research purposes, many companies allow the employees to go out in the field and thus analyse according to their requirements. This is not considered a leave but a working day as the employee is working, but just not in the four walls of the office.

    These are almost all the kinds of leaves that all the offices in India provides. Having a proper knowledge regarding the various kind of leaves can come handy and is good to have a knowledge about. Leaves are the rights of the employees and thus must be enjoyed to the fullest after days of hard work.

    Image Source: https://www.hcamag.com/au/news/opinion-and-best-practice/why-personal-leave-is-a-hot-topic/180201

  • 13 Best Corporate Gift Ideas for Employees

    Gifts in any form are always valued. Be it from a loved one, a friend, a family member or any known acquaintance. Gifts are generally given to show appreciation to the person being gifted to. Appreciating someone’s presence always helps in fostering positive long-term relations with people. So, in today’s time, more than ever, employees need to be made aware regularly, by their superiors about the important role they play in company’s functioning and to prove that they are extremely valuable to the company. So, what better way than to appreciate their efforts than through gifts?

    Corporate gifting, though going on for years, has gained popularity in recent years. More and more companies are putting their best foot forward to maintain the best company employee relations in the hope of making the employees feel valued and thus keeping the best of the lot retained. Amidst the ongoing pandemic, these small acts of appreciation must be on the top of the employer’s list, to help boost the employee’s dedication and motivate his/her team in these tough times.

    Never do These

    Some of the things to be kept in mind before deciding on what to gift your employees are:

    • Do not be promotional: Avoid gifting your employees something that screams of promotion of your company. This generally does not go well with the employees and can work opposite to the way you intended for your gifts to work.
    • Be appropriate: Gifting a personalized memento is great for you to motivate your employee, but there is a fine line between gifting something personalized and being too personal. So, be careful!
    • Do not compromise on quality: Not gifting something is way better than gifting something of cheap quality to your favourite employee. It creates an impression of being a meagre boss, which you don’t want to be called!
    • Do not be biased: A big NO for any employer when running a business is to show favouritism. Not only is this practice unethical but it will portray you in a bad light and will instil this notion in the minds of your employees that whatever they do, they are never going to match to the level of your “favourite person” and they start to slack off.

    Best Corporate Gift Ideas for Employees

    Below are some of the various corporate gifting ideas, for your employees to make them feel special:

    Personalized Gifts

    Any gift item with a personalized message for the employee, will tug at their heartstrings and will make you one special boss. This kind of gift gives the impression that the employee is valuable enough for you to take some time out from your busy schedule and appreciate them to make them feel special.

    Electronics

    Fitness bands, watches, portable speakers, earphones, power banks, wireless charging pads and many more are very popular as gift ideas for the new-age employees. These kinds of gifts are appreciated and in trend nowadays.

    Gift Cards

    One of the most widely used gifting options, gift coupons from various e-commerce websites like Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal works best when you are not sure what to gift and at the same time want your employee to have something that they like!

    Personal Care Products:

    Who does not love various products that help take great care of their bodies? Gifting something in this domain is also a good idea. A gift hamper of personal care products like wipes, sanitizers, shaving accessories, lip balms, essential oils and many more serves as a great gifting option.

    Desk Accessories

    Something that serves as a constant reminder to your employee that they are valued, what better than a gift that they keep on their desk and see it regularly? Journals, photo frames, a huge amount of stationaries, notebooks, folders, desk clocks and many more come under these criteria.

    Flowers, Chocolates and Cakes

    Who can break the age-old charm of a chocolate box and a bouquet to go with it? Though old, but it still works it’s magic even today. Gifting this on a special occasion of your employee’s birthday or his/her special day will help bring a smile on their faces.

    Books

    Gifting knowledge to anyone is one of the best gifts anyone can gift. Books have their charm, but not everyone is an avid reader. So, make sure to do some background research before gifting a great set of books to your employee!

    Small Plants

    Who does not like some greenery? A potted plant, a small bonsai, bamboo, oak, some small indoor plant serves as a great gifting option. A little bit green on the desk, indoor garden, someplace at home is bound to get the mood refreshed and serves as a great motivator.

    Planned Trips/Paid Holidays

    Sending off your employee to a great holiday is probably one of the best ways to express your gratitude for their outstanding performance. Even giving days off to help them enjoy some peaceful moments with their near and dear ones is a great way to make them feel valued.

    Spa Bookings

    Who does not like to relax after a hard-working day? Booking a spa appointment for your employee will communicate your message very clearly and your employee will remember it for many days to come.

    A Wine Basket

    A basket filled with imported wine to help celebrate their contribution to the company is a classy way to show your employees of their importance in the organization, which is highly appreciated by them.

    Drink Wares

    Drink wares serve as one of the most popular gifting items for the employees. There is a huge range of options from which you can choose, like the stainless steel one, to flask bottles, to strainer bottles with some cute quotes written on them or personalized, which serve as a great gifting option.

    Accessories

    Sunglasses, office bags, watches, pen drives, bottles, perfumes, keychains, cardholders are some of the accessories that can be gifted to your employees.

    These are some of the gift items that would be loved by your employees if you gift them. Everyone loves to be appreciated for all the hard work that they put in. This is the time to show a bit more love to all those working, make them feel special, motivate them, tell them that they are valued. Spreading happiness will eventually reflect in their work too, and a happy employee will take a company to great heights. So, keep on appreciating employees so that they continue with their good work.

  • What to do After B.Tech in CSE?

    4 long years, the same group of friends, millions of memories. It is correctly said that engineering is not just a degree, it is an emotion, that only an engineer can understand. But as all good things come to an end, so does these 4 glorious years. A B.Tech degree does not just give you the right to be called as an “engineer” which is the dream of most of the Indian parents, but it also one of the most sought out career options in India. Moreover, a degree in computer science engineering (CSE) is considered as an extremely lucrative career option with high-paying jobs as everyone knows, “whatever may happen, tech is never out of fashion!”.

    What to do After B.Tech in CSE?

    Jobs Right After B.Tech

    Having a B.Tech degree in CSE opens up multiple avenues as this domain provides knowledge applicable for various career options. Some of the career options that can be pursued after having a B.Tech in CSE are:

    • Software engineer: If you are a person who lives by coding, then this is the option for you. Software developer, website designer, website developer, mobile expert, software support analyst are some of the fields in which you can score a job with your passion and the required knowledge of coding.
    • Computer Programmer: The most wanted job after a degree in computer science, it requires creating and developing various software programs catering to the user’s demands. Optimal development of the program so that the programs work glitch-free is the most important aspect that needs to be taken care of by the programmer.
    • Mobile application developer: New applications are rolling almost daily in huge numbers in today’s time because we as individuals are insatiable and are always on a look for something new, something even more exciting. So, CSE engineers with great programming skills can opt for a future in this. Knowledge of the native languages like C, C++, Java is extremely helpful in this career.
    • Database Administrator: Maintaining the security of a company’s database, providing modifications to it, reviewing the database software purchases are the roles of a database administrator. One of the most demanding careers and thus a fruitful one.
    • Web designer: To make the website of any firm appealing to the customers, is the job of the web designer. Knowing that every company requires an online presence these days, so computer science engineers with a creative bent of mind, this is your field.
    • Web developer: In addition to the job of a web designer, a web developer must also develop the code for a website and edit the website as per client’s demand. Understanding of UI, web functions, security principles, web services and in-depth of knowledge of various programming languages like HTML, CSS, API, JavaScript is required.
    • Computer System Analyst: Increasing and thereby maintaining the efficiency of the computer systems of various big companies is what this job entails. In-depth knowledge of the recent trends in the field of technology is a must for pursuing this as a career.
    • Information Security Analyst: A fairly recent profile, but extremely essential one with a lot of growth and demand in the coming years. The job description entails protection of the company’s information, websites and networks from all the possible attacks that could happen ranging from security breach to an intrusion from a hacker. An emerging profile, but a great one to showcase your problem-solving skills and the determination to address and thereby completely eradicating the problem.

    Some Not So General Career Options

    • Content developer: Harboring the skills of a computer science engineer, the individual will know the content that a website should have, to attract traffic. So, it may be a bit unconventional career option for a computer science engineer, but no one knows the subject matter as clearly as them, so definitely a fulfilling career option.
    • Professors: Teaching as a career option requires in-depth knowledge of the subject along with a huge amount of dedication. Being a faculty member in the premium engineering institutes is a matter of great pride for various people.
    • Banking jobs: Very few people opt for it, a banking job with the reputed banks, where managing the client’s database, inbuilt bank software is on the daily job-to-do list of the hired person.
    • PSU and government jobs: Careers in the Indian Navy, BBNL, BSNL, Indian Air Force, BEL, LIC, civil services and various state PSUs, to name a few, can be looked into after completing the bachelor’s degree. For many of these, separate exams are conducted which needs to be cleared for securing a job.
    • Entrepreneurship: Creating a startup is a valid career option after any course, to be honest. A product-based startup or an IT service offering startup can be a great idea for a self-made startup.

    When Jobs are a Far Away Option

    Instead of straight plunging into the corporate world head-on just after the completion of your bachelor’s degree, higher studies are also a great option that can be pursued. Just like jobs, B.Tech in CSE also provides the foundation for various higher educational fields. Some of those are mentioned below:

    • M.Tech/M.S: The next step to a B.Tech is logically a Mtech, which can be pursued by appearing for a GATE where the knowledge about the core engineering subjects is required. You can either pursue M.Tech as is called in India from IITs and IIMs or M.S (Masters of Science) as referred to in abroad for a higher degree.
    • PhD: A PhD is something that any individual with a bachelor’s degree in any field can opt for. A strong interest in the field of research, along with the huge amount of patience (as the PhD degree requires a minimum of 5 years to complete) are a must if you want to attain your PhD.
    • B.A: One of the most sought-after degrees for a career in management for all the people having a minimum of bachelor’s degree. One of the most popular options for engineers as is seen from the fact that more than 60% of MBA aspirants in any college is an engineer. But doing an MBA in a specific field opens various job high-paying job opportunities with more responsibilities and also instils various skills in an individual.
    • Special Courses: Applying for various special courses to enhance the skills and thereby using them to apply for jobs in a special domain is also a new trend nowadays. Courses for various languages, data science, data analyst and many more are the talk of the town today.

    Conclusion

    The future after B.Tech in CSE is very bright as it provides numerous options for the individual in whatever way they want their career to progress. There is no limit to whatever a human being can do and achieve in life and a degree in CSE proves just that. A career full of lucrative options awaits you, after your bachelor’s in CSE. So, stop not, spread your wings and fly high.

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